About WHO Collaborating Centres
A World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre (opens an external site) is an institute designated by the WHO Director-General to form part of an international collaborative network which supports and undertakes projects in support of the Organization's programmes at all levels (country, inter-country, regional, interregional and global) (WHO 2006).
Since WHO's establishment, it has obtained expert advice and support from a large number of Collaborating Centres which has greatly benefited WHO's programmes.
The main role of a WHO Collaborating Centre is to:
Implement WHO's mandated work and programme objectives; and develop and strengthen institutional capacity in countries and regions.
Common misconceptions
Designation as a WHO Collaborating Centre is not:
- a certification of excellence,
- a prize or an award, or
- indefinite.
Designation application process
A designation application to become a Collaborating Centre can only be submitted following a two-year working relationship with WHO and the designation process takes at least two years.
Each institute is assessed for a variety of aspects including scientific and technical standing and development of working relationships at country, regional and global levels.
Designation can only be given for a maximum of four years.
Global network
WHO is divided into six regions and Australia sits in the Western Pacific Region (WPR) (coloured dark blue in the map below). We also work closely with our neighbours in the South East Asian Region (SEAR) (light blue in the map below). These two regions account for 53% of the global population which is the epicentre for disasters and emerging and epidemic diseases.
The WPR includes 37 countries. Like many of the WHO regions, the challenging considerations of disparity and diversity that exist for nursing and midwifery in the WPR cannot be underestimated (ICN 2004, ANMC 2000, RCNA 2004). Alongside these challenges most WPR countries have an aging, diverse, demanding and informed population.
At present there are approximately 40 global WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery:
- 7 in WPR
- 6 in the SEAR
- 17 in the Region of the Americas
- 2 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
- 6 in the European Region
- 2 in the African Region
For the most up-to-date information please visit the WHO Collaborating Centre database (opens an external site).
More information about Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery Development (opens an external site).
